Perry was born in San Diego, California, USA, attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild for over twenty years. He appeared in commercials for Budweiser, Ford Motors and Marlboro Classic Clothes. As a musician he released several albums including "Shawn Michael Perry & Only the Brave" and "Hungry 4 Heroes" (2014).

Perry also appeared in episodes of Murder, She Wrote (1994, with Jerry Hardin and Ned Romero), Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and CBS Schoolbreak Special (1995). For the 2002 sport drama The Slaughter Rule, he worked as technical advisor and performed stunts.